Household carbonator



Aug- 4, 1953 A. J. NICHOLAS HOUSEHOLD CARBONATOR Filed March 14, 1951:inventor ANDREW JN/GHOLAS (ttornegs Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HOUSEHOLD CARBONATOR Andrew J. Nicholas, Farmington, Conn.Application March 14, 1951, Serial No. 215,573

13 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid carbonating apparatus and morespecificially to a corbonator which is particularly suited for householdinstallations.

The use of carbonated water in the home 1s a common practice andsubstantial quantities of carbonated water are consumed in this manner.Heretofore, most carbonated water used in the home has been providedcommercially in bottled form which creates a problem of storage, keepingadequate supplies on hand, breakage, etc. as well as being relativelyexpensive.` One alternative to the use of bottled carbonated water hasbeen to employ small batch type household carbonators which arerelatively difcult and cumbersome to operate and which are onlymoderately ecient and generally unsatisfactory, particularly wherecontinuous and ample supplies of carbonated water are desired. Anotheralternatlve has been to install relatively complicated and expensivecarbonators of the commercial type which generally are unsuited forhousehold use from a size and cost standpoint.

It is an object of this invention to provide a continuous typecarbonator which may be connected directly to a home water supply systemand which may be effectively and efficiently operated by utilizing thepressures generally encountered in the home water supply system withoutthe need for additional pumps, etc.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carbonator which ischaracterized by its simplified and compact construction and yet whichwill be eicient in operation and produce a highly palatable and goodgrade carbonated water at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbonator which maybe disposed within a -conventional household refrigerator withoutmodifying the same to any great extent and so as to avoid the need forauxiliary cooling apparatus.

Another object is to provide a household carrbonator having a minimum ofmoving parts which would be likely to wear out in service, which can beeasily and inexpensively fabricated and assembled, and which willoperate efciently under normal conditions in the household.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the featuresof construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplifled in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings: l

The figure is a vertical cross sectional view of vliquid carbonatingapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The carbonating apparatus shown in the drawing may be brieiiy describedas comprising a differential pressure regulator In and a carbonating anddispensing container I2. It is the function of the regulator I0 toreceive a supply of uncarbonated or sweet water and carbon dioxide underpressure and to then regulate the pressure 0f the latter relative to theformer. The water and gas under regulated pressure then flow to thecontainer I2 which provides a carbonating chamber C wherein the carbondioxide gases are introduced to the water and entrained therein. Thecarbonated water thus produced is stored within the chamber C untildrawn off by dispensing valve I4.

Referring to the diierential pressure regulator IG in more detail, itwill be noted that the housing comprises a channeled body I6 having areduced upper end I8 which is externally threaded to receive a cap 2l).The cap 26 has an internal annular shoulder 22 dening a circular recess24. The shoulder 22 abuts the peripheral margin of a diaphragm 26 whichis of substantially the same diameter as the reduced end portion I8 andthe diaphragm 26 is secured against the end portion I8 by the threadedengagement of the cap 20 with the body I 6. The reduced end portion I8also defines a circular recess 28 in the body I6 so that the diaphragm26 provides a resilient separating wall between an upper chamber 30defined by the recess 24 and a lower chamber 32 defined by the recess28.

The upper chamber 30 is provided with an inlet 34 through the cap 20which receives one end of a water pipe or tube 36 preferably providedwith a shutoiT valve (not shown). The water inlet tube 36 communicateswith a pressured water supply such as the household water supply systemand the tube 36 may be permanently tapped to the system. Thus, it willbe seen that water under household pressure is introduced to the upperchamber 3i), which will hereinafter be referred to as the water chamber.

Carbon dioxide is introduced to the regulator I I) from a conventionalsource (su-ch as a tank or cylinder) by means of a pipe or tube 4&1which communicates with a radially directed channel 42 in the body I6.The channel 42 in turn communicates with a centrally disposed valvechamber 44 which is capped by a plug 46 threaded into a verticalaperture 48 in the body i6. The plug 46 has a central opening 50affording communication between the lower Ichamber 32 and the valvechamber 44, A valve body 52 is disposed in the chamber 44 and has a stem5I pro'- jecting through the opening 5I) into chamber 32 where itcarries a disk 58 adjacent and below the diaphragm 26. The valve body 52wardly by a coil spring 54 disposed 56 in the upper end of the plug 4Swithin a well so as to abut is biased upthe under side of the valve disk53. In the upward position of the valve 52, the opening 5i) is closed sothat the gas cannot enter the lower chamber 32.

As previously mentioned, the ldisk 5E vis closely adjacent the diaphragm25, and in the closed position of the valve 5E the diaphragm 26 isshifted upwardly by the disk 58 so that a central boss Gil on the topsurface of the .diaphragm closes a centrally disposed outlet 62 'in thewater chamber 30.

In the aforedescribed closed position of the diaphragm 2G and the valve52, the carbon dilled with carbonated water.

oxide gas under the pressure of a supply Lsource is conned within thechamber ill in the regulator IB. When water is initially introduced tothe chamber 3Q, the diaphragm 25 is -urged downwardlyby the pressure ofthe water and the valve 52 is `opened against the force of the spring5de The carbon dioxide within the valve chamber M is permitted .toescape through the aperture 5,0 vand well 56 .into the llower chamber32., which will hereinafter be `rererred to as the gas chamber. If thepressure within the gas chamber 32 aided by the for-ce of the spring 55,becomes greater than the pressure within the water .chainber 3U, .thediaphragm 26 will be shifted upwardly to close .the water outlet 62 andthe valve 52 will close `inlet 50 to the gas chamber 32,. lf, however,the combined forces of the spring and the gas pressure are equal to orless than the water pressure, the valve .52 and diaphragm will remainopen so that the gas and water chambers will accommodate the ow -oftheir respective fluids. The gas chamber 32 is provided with .an outlet64 communicating with container l2 by means of conduit 5.5.6, and thewater outlet 52 communicates with container l2 by means of `conduit 53.

The container l2 comprises an open top, shelllike housing l@ closed by acap l2 fitted with O ring seal 13 to denne the carbonating chamber C`The cap l2 is provided with apertured plugs 14 and 16 which receive thegas and water conduits 56 and t8, respectively. The plugs "i4 and 16 arethreaded into suitable cavities in the cap 12 .and their respectiveapertures 15 and ll communicate with valve chambers 'F8 and 80 in thecap l2 adjacent and below the plugs. The valve chambers 1.8 and Bilretain valve bodies 8?, and 84, respectively, in spaced relation and thechambers are provided with outlets SS and SS leading to the carbonatingchamber C. The water outlet 88 is provided with a reduced orice ornozzle 9D which introduces the water to the chamber C as a spray so thatthe gas, which is concurrently discharged into the chamber, may beeffectively entrained within .the water.

The gas which enters the chamber C is at a lesser pressure than thewater introduced to the chamber and it has been found that a lbs persquare inch dierential is desirable. The differential occurs in theregulator l0 by means of providing valve 52 with a 10 llb. spring. Thevalve 52 is initially opened by the pressure of water in chamber Sil.When the pressure of gas in the chamber 32 is within l0 lbs. of thewater pressure, the valve 52 will close. The gas pressure does not reachsuch a figure during carbonation since dow continues through the gaschamber 32 and the chamber C will be supplied with a rising column ofcarbonated water. The rising column of liquid will increase the pressureon the unentrained carbon dioxide within the chamber C and the gaschamber 32. The increased gas pressure in the chamber 32 causes thediaphragm 26 to rise when the gas pressure comes within 10 lbs. of thewater pressure permitting valve 52 to close and at the same time thediaphragm will close water outlet 62 in the regulator it; 1t .has vbeentoundxtha't the gas pressure reaches the point ior closing Icperationwhen the chamber C is approximately two-thirds The unentrained gas.remaining in the chamber C is at a higher than normal pressure and aportion of this gas be entrained within the standing column of Water. v

The carbonated water within the chamber C is drawn off through thedispensingr valve M by means of a vertically arranged flow tube 32 whichhas its free end disposed in spaced relation .to the bottom of thechamber C. The upper end of the tube 9,2 communicates with a horizontalow tube S5 which receives the dispensing valve M. Thus, when the valveHl is opened, carbonated water will ow through the tubes S2 and 5@ underthe pressure within the chamber C. A .rod 3.4i is disposed within thetube 92 in spaced relation and has a bifurcated upper end `95 whichprojects through .a suitable aperture 31 in the flow tube 96. Thebfurcated end 95 abuts the base or a generally U-shaped member itshaving upwardly extending legs m2 and 194 which project through suitableapertures T06 .and ID in the cap l2 so as to extend into valve chambers"I8 and Bil. When the dispensing valve l is opened and carbonated watervilows through the tube 92 about the rod B4, the rod will be thrustupwardly by the action of the water and will in turn torce the U-shapedmember '|66 upwardly. The free ends of the legs H32 and H14 which extendinto the valve chambers TB and l'll are nested in cavities in valvebodies '82 and Bil, respectively, and when the rod 94 thrusts upwardly,the legs H12 and lli will shift the valve bodies upwardly to close thegas inlet T5 and the Water inlet ll. Thus, during the dispensingoperation, chamber C is closed to the entry of carbon dioxide and waterand the carbonated Water is dispensed under its own pressure. Since theiiow pressure decreases during the dispensing operation, the carbonatedwater dispensed has unusual eiervescent and bite qualities. When thedispensing operation ceases, the pressure within the chamber C will havebeen reduced suiriciently to permit the regulator i 0 to function in thepreviously described manner so that water and carbon dioxide may againbe introduced to the chamber C.

Since in the preferred embodiment of the invention the household systemprovides the pressured water, it is conceivable that the water inletpressure to the regulator I0 will vary as the system is tapped in otherparts of the household. This will cause fluctuation of the diaphragmwithin the regulator I3 during the standby period when the chamber C isutilized merely as a storage chamber for the carbonated water. Due tothe aforementioned fluctuations there is a tendency toward undesirableintermittent flow of water to the chamber C. This intermittent stream ofWater could not be effectively carbonated with the result that waterstored within the chamber C would lose some of its efferescent quality.

To permit such intermittent flow, a float l I0 is provided in thechamber C and guided for vertical movement by brackets l I2 whichembrace the vertical flow tube 92. The float H0 carries an upwardlyextending element lili which is apertured to loosely embrace thehorizontal flow tube 96. The element ||4 has an upwardly opened channel||6 which receives an appendage l I8 on lthe U-shaped member |00adjacent and below the leg |04. When the level of the carbonated liquidwithin the chamber C reaches the desired point (two-thirds lled) theiioat ||0 moves upwardly thrusting against the appendage ||8 on themember |00 which then acts as a lever fulcrumed on the bifurcated end 95of the rod 94. The leg |04 is thrust upwardly to shift the valve body 84and thus close the water inlet so that Water cannot enter the chamber C.The water valve 84 remains closed due to the thrust of oat ||0 so thatfluctuations of the diaphragm 26 occasioned by opening and closing thespigots in the household water supply system will not cause further owof water into chamber C. The supply of carbonated water within thechamber remains at a constant level and retains its effervescent qualityalthough stored within the chamber for a relatively long period.

'I'he aforedescribed Carbonating apparatus is characterized by itssimplicity and compact arrangement and requires little, if any,maintenance. 'I'he carbonator functions without complicated valving andwithout the pumps and like equipment associated with commercialcarbonating apparatus. Operating water pressure is supplied by thehousehold system and a conventional source of pressured carbon dioxide.is utilized. The pressure of the carbon dioxide is regulated relativeto the pressure of the water by means responsive to the pressure of thewater. Carbonating action occurs at a pressure considerably less thanthe pressure obtaining in most commercial installations, fyet the watermanufactured has an eiervescent quality comparable to that produced byany known commercial installation. The apparatus, due to its compactconstruction, may be installed within. alconventional householdrefrigerator without unduly restricting the available space and requiresonly a slight modification of the refrigerator for permanentinstallation so that a constant supply of chilled carbonated water willbe available in the household.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof,

it is intended that all matter contained in the above description orshown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the followingclaims is intended to cover all of the generic and specinc features ofthe invention herein described and all statements of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. Carbonating apparatus comprising a housing dening a water chamber anda gas chamber,

each of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet, the inlets of saidchambers being connectible to sources of pressured water and carbondioxide, respectively, wall means supported by said housing between saidchambers, said wall means being movable in response to the differentialuid pressure in said chambers, valve means supported in said housing andmovable with said wall means between an open position and a closedposition wherein the outlet in one of said chambers and the inlet in theother of said chambers are closed, and means dening a carbonatingchamber in communication with said outlets.

' 2. Carbonating apparatus comprising a housing dening a water chamberand a gas chamber, each of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet,the inlets of said chambers being connectible to sources of pressuredwater and carbon dioxide respectively, wall means supported by saidhousing between said chambers, said Wall means being movable in responseto the diierential fluid pressure in said chambers, valve meanssupported in said housing for movement with said wall means between anopen position and a closed position wherein the outlet in one of saidchambers and the inlet in the other of said chambers are closed, meansbiasing said valve means toward closed position, and means dening acarbonating chamber in communication with said outlets.

3. Carbonating apparatus comprising a housing dening a water chamber anda gas chamber, each of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet, theinlets of said chambers being connectible to sources of pressured Waterand carbon dioxide respectively, a resilient wall supported between saidchambers, said wall being movable in response to the differential I luidpressure in said chambers, valve means supported in said housing andmovable with said wall be- "tween an open position and a closed positionwherein the outlet in said water chamber and the inlet in said gaschamber are closed, means biasing said valve means toward closedposition, and means denning a carbonating chamber in communication withsaid outlets.

4. Carbonating apparatus comprising a housing dening a water chamber anda gas chamber each of said chambers having an inlet and an outlet, theinlets of said chambers being connectible to sources of pressured waterand carbon dioxide respectively, a resilient wall supported by saidhousing between said chambers, said wall being movable in response todiierential iiuid pressure in said chambers between a position whereinit closes the outlet in said water chamber to a position within said gaschamber, valve means supported in said housing and movable with saidwall to close the inlet in said gas chamber when the outlet in saidwater chamber ,is closed and to open the gas inlet when the water outletis open, and means defining a Carbonating chamber in communication withsaid outlets.

5. Carbonating apparatus comprising means dening a Carbonating chamberhaving inlets connectible to a source of pressured water and carbondioxide gas, respectively, flow control means having an inlet in saidchamber and an externally disposed dispensing outlet, and valve meansdisposed in said chamber responsive to flow in said control means toclose the chamber inlets.

6. Carbonating apparatus comprising means dening a Carbonating chamberhaving inlets connectible to sources of pressured water and carbondioxide gas, respectively, ilow control means comprising a flow tubehaving an inlet disposed in said chamber and a dispensing valve havingan externally disposed outlet, and valve means disposed in said chamberfor closing said inlets, said valve means including a rod shiftablysupported in said tube and responsive to 7 sures .of water and car-bondioxide gas, said regulator having inlets, connectible to a pressuredsupply of waiter and carbon dioxide respectively, and having a wateroutlet and a gas outlet, means defining a carbonating chamber havinginlets in communication with said water and gas outlets, respectively,new control means having an inlet in said chamber and an externallydisposed dispensing outlet, .and valve means disposed in said chamberresponsive to iiow in .said control means .to close the chamber inlets.

2,.. Carbonating .apparatus comprising a pressure regulator forregulating the relative pressures o the water and carbon dioxide gas,said regulator having inlets connectible to a pressured .supply of waterand carbon dioxide 'respectively., and having water outlet and a gasoutlet, means deining a carbonating chamber having inlets incommunication with said water and .gas outlets, respectively, flowcontrol means comprising a ilow tube having an inlet disposed in saidcarbonating chamber and .a dispensing valve having an externallydisposed outlet, .and valve means disposed in said chamber for closingthe valve inlets, said valve means including a rod sh'iftably supportedin said tube and responsive to -luid ilow therein to shift said valvemeans to closed position.

9. Carbonating apparatus comprising in combination .a pressure regulatorhaving means for iaecomrnoc'iating the flow of water and carbon dioxidegas .from pressured sources, said regulator having means for regulatingthe relative pressures of said fluids, fluid pressure responsive valvemeans 'for closing said regulator to the flow of gas, means defining acarbonating chamber having a Water inlet and a gas inlet incommunication with said regulator whereby said carbonating chamber willreceive a column of carbonated water., thereby increasing the gaspressure in said chamber and .said regulator to effeet .closure of theregulator valve means at a predetermined liquid level in said chamber,and liquid level responsive means disposed in said carbonating chamberfor closing the water inlet .to .said carbonat'lng chamber when -theliquid therein .reaches said predetermined level.

10. .Carbonating .apparatus comprising in combination a pressureregulator having means for .accommodating the flow of water and carbondioxide gas from .pressured sources, said regulator having means forregulating the relative pressures of said iiuids, iiuid pressureresponsive valve means for closing said'regulator to the flow coi gas,means .deiining a carbonating chamber having a water .inlet .and a gasinlet in communication with .said Vregulator whereby said car- 4bonatingchamber will receive a rising column .of .carbonated water, thereby'increasing the gas pressure in said carbonating chamber and saidregulator to effect closure of the regulator valve .means at apredetermined liquid level in said `ca'rbonat'ing chamber, valve meansdisposed in .said carbonating chamber in communication with the waterinlet, and liquid level responsive .means for closing said lastmentioned valve means when the liquid in said chamber reaches saidpredetermined level.

11. Carbonating apparatus comprising in combination a pressure regulatorhaving a water chamber and a carbon dioxide gas chamber separated by aresilient wall, each of said chambers 'having an outlet and an inletconnectible to a pressured source of their respective fluids, said wallbeing .movable in .response to iiuid pressures,

valve means movable with said wall from an open position to a closedposition whereby the gas inlet is closed, means defining a carbonatingchamber having a water and a gas inlet in communication with the'regulator outletswhereby said carbonating chamber will receive anincreasing column of carbonated water, thereby increasing the pressurein said carbonating lchamber and said gas chamber to effect closure ofthe vregulator valve means at a predetermined liquid level in saidcarbonating chamber, and liquid level responsive means disposed in saidcarbonating chamber for closing the water inlet to said carbonatingchamber when the liquid therein reaches said predetermined level.

12. Carbonating apparatus comprising in combination a pressure regulatorhaving a water chamber and a carbon dioxide gas chamber separated by aresilient wall, each of said chambers having an outlet and inlet-connectible to a pressured source of their respective uids, said wallbeing movable in response to fluid pressures, valve means movable withsaid wall from an open position to a closed position whereby the gasinlet is closed, means deiining a car- 'bonating chamber having a waterinlet and a gas inlet in communication with the regulator outletswhereby said carbonating chamber will receive a rising column ofcarbonated water, thereby increasing the pressure in said carbonatingchamber and said gas chamber to effect closure of the regulator valvemeans at a predetermined liquid level in said carbonating chamber, valvemeans disposed in said carbonating chamber adjacent the water inlet, andliquid level responsive means disposed in said carbonating chamber forclosing said last mentioned valve means when the liquid in saidcarbonating chamber reaches said predetermined level.

13. Carbonating apparatus comprising in combination a pressure regulatorhaving a water chamber and a carbon dioxide gas chamber separated by aresilient wall, each of said chambers having an outlet and an inletconnectible to a pressured source of their -respective fluids, said wallbeing movable in response to fluid pressures, valve means movable withsaid wall from an open position to a closed position wherein the gasinlet is closed, means defining a carbonat- .ing chamber having a waterinlet and a gas inl'et in communication with the regulator outlets,valve means disposed in Veach of said last mentioned inlets, flow`control means having an inlet in said chamber and an externallyvdisposed dispensing outlet, valve actuating .means responsive to iiowin said control .means to close said last .mentioned valve means, andliquid level responsive actuating means disposed in .said carbonatingchamber for closing the valve means at the water inlet when the liquidin said carbonating chamber reaches a. predetermined level.

ANDREW J. NICHOLAS.

References Cited inthe file of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS'Number 'Name Date 1,272,299 Murphy July 9, i918 1,808,854 Malone June9, 1931 1,840,859 'Ireanor Jan. l2, i932 '1,943,903 'Tre'anor Jan. 1'6,1934 1,961,732 Bastian June 5, 1934 2,446,051 Leslie July 27, 1948

